Island Track and Field
The annual Manitoulin Island Elementary Track and Field Championships took place over two days last week in Gore Bay. As per usual there were supportive crowds and excellent competition in attendance at the June 13 and 15 event. Amazingly, there were 12 Island track and field records that were broken, by seven individuals and one team, over the two days, despite softer track conditions. In the 9-year-old girls’ division, Alexandra Wilson-Zegil set the new record in high jump with a 1.24 m bar!
In the 10-year-old girls’ Ava Assinewai upped the ante in two events as she eclipsed the high-jump mark, setting a new target of 1.27m. Finally, she absolutely was on her game to beat the old 1500m record set by none other than former, super-Eagle, OFSAA alumnus Emma Tallman by 9 seconds in the 1500m. Ava clocked a sub-6 time of 5:59.47 to break the 15-year-old tally. Malachi Joseph beat the long jump with a leap forward of 3.81 m while Eli Locke moved the mark up to 1.28 m in the high jump. Jayden Hayden completed the strong 10-year-old hit on the records with a new rank in standing-long with a 2.09 m mark.
In the 11-year class, Delaney Bridgeman took home two new records as she obliterated the old standing long jump by 12cm with a 2.22 m in addition to her triple jump record with a 8.65 m measuring.
In the 12-year-old girls’ division, Sophie Heitkamp had a mind-blowing, three records fall to her efforts. She racked up a new long jump of 4.23 m, standing long jump of 2.23 m and a high jump at 1.37 m!
Finally, there was a large cheer emitted from the C. C. McLean 13+ girls’ relay team as their time of 1:01.95 was called out as they reduced all future teams’ targets to win the gold medal.
As well as these record results, individual medal winners featured: 9 and under tied girls’ gold medal recipients Mya Balfe and Alex Wilson-Zegil, Sadie Bridgeman with silver and Zaagaasge “Z” Corbiere-Toulouse and Tessa Merrylees sharing third. On the boys’ side it was Rhyis Arthurs in sole possession of the goal, Jack Carter of the silver and then Noah Thorpe and Cody Campbell each taking home a bronze medal.
In the 10-year-old girls’ class Ava had a perfect 12 point gold, Brooke Gibeault amassed 9 points for the silver while cousin Annie Balfe was a close bronze with 8 tallies. On the guys’ side it was Malachi Joseph taking gold, Davin Deschenes with a silver and Jaydan Hayden and John-Michael Taggart each picking up the bronze with 8 points a-piece.
The 11-year-old girls’ set highlighted a rare perfect-12 tie between Delaney Bridgeman and Aysia Debassige who managed to each win all of their four events but not to have to meet each other in them. Taking silver Shaolin Roy in silver then Amelia Osawanimiki and Jazmin Colwell each in bronze. The boys’ event featured the C. C. McLean 1-2 punch of Bay Migwans with the gold and Mason Leighton taking silver. Tying for bronze was the Little Current pair of Allan Wilkin and Billy Biederman.
In the 12 girls’ Sophie Heitkamp posted a perfect-12 while teammate Teah Migwans was second and Wasse Abin’s Victoria Trudeau and LCPS’s Autumn Deschesne in thirds. The guys division was tightly contested with the push for gold naming three gentlemen counting 10 points to each take gold including: Trent Bell, Liam Bridgeman and Latrell Peltier. In silver, both Julian Wemigwans and Jacob Wilson scored eight points and finally wearing bronze was both Carter Moggy and Darwin Wood.
The 13-plus division was very competitive and predicts great things for their future team ast they move into secondary school next year. In the girls’ category. Malia Leighton was golden with teammate Ayriell Nodecker close with the silver. Donning the bronze was CMPS athlete Hailey McGills-Prior tying Wikwemikong’s Francesca Pheasant. The boys’ set featured Owen Duncanson with a perfect 12 points, Nyron Panamick in a close second with 11 points and Rory Dearing in bronze with 9.
Meet hosts C. C. McLean won the Per-Capita and Overall trophies in fine fashion. Their accolades must echo the kudos to all the C. C. McLean staff volunteers and Manitoulin Transport officials who helped make this annual top notch. Event organizer Dan Smith, in addition to thanking all of the people responsible for the huge undertaking, also acknowledged the three staff who will be leaving the fold for next year. The Island sports’ committee will surely recognize, Bruce Lindsay, Heather Jefkins and Lydia Burlein for all of their tireless work in track and field, cross country and everything else they have helped out with Island elementary sports over all these years from Gore Bay.
Meanwhile at the Miners’ Mayhem…
This Mayhem is an annual Sudbury obstacle course with crazy and often unexpected feats of brains and brawn. Congratulations to several Manitoulin athletes who were up to the task. Laury and Kylie Cranston took 1:02:23 hour and 1:00:31 respectively of the humanity. Brad and Anya Wright in the team division clocked 54:06. Denise Brady was in at 40:25 and Greg Bond ripped it up at 39:23!
Fundraising barbecue to complete Classic summer athletic event
The 16th annual ‘run, paddle and pedal’ triathlon is ready to go, Sunday, July 2 down at the government dock on Lake Mindemoya as part of the Central Manitoulin Lions’ Club’s Homecoming Weekend (www.mindemoyaclassic.com).
The event is a 5.5k run, 3k paddle and 13k cycle triathlon and can be completed as a team of four, part of a pair or all on your own. That being said, there are always “unranked” teams who like to get creative with the established categories. There are no division bragging rights, but it is all about being active and having fun so, why not? As always, organizers can use a couple more volunteers so visit the above website for more information.
This year there will be a full-fledged barbecue offered for participants, volunteers and observers alike and all for a great cause. This year the Manitoulin Pet Rescue will be hosting a barbeque (11 am – 2 pm) with all proceeds going directly to M.P.R. For those unfamiliar with this lauded charity here is some details: volunteer operated, not-for-profit charitable organization; dedicated to rescuing and re-homing unwanted or displaced cats and dogs of Manitoulin Island and the North Shore; dogs and cats coming into MPR go into caring and committed foster homes and assess their individual needs to find permanent, responsible, forever homes; M.P.R. is sustained by public donations; all donations go directly toward the care for the animal in the program.
A good sport is good for sports. chipstoquips@gmail.com
